Asseo, David

1933 - He graduated from a Jewish school on the Greek island of Rhodes with a diploma qualifying him to teach Hebrew and Jewish religious subjects.

- He began teaching at schools in Istanbul. He went on to teach Hebrew at the Jewish High School.

1936 - After completing his military service, he was named a member of the Bet Din, or rabbinical court, later becoming its secretary as well as private secretary to Chief Rabbi Rafael Saban.

1955 - Became headmaster of an academy of Jewish learning in Haskoy of which he was co-founder.

1960 - He was elected chief rabbi by Turkey's Jewish community after the death of Rabbi Saban.

1997 - He wrote, "Throughout the years that I have served as chief rabbi in the Turkish Republic, I can state without hesitation that all religions have been practiced in our country freely and unhindered".